A few years ago, the Ford Everest cemented its place in the dominant Philippine midsize SUV triumvirate alongside the Mitsubishi Montero Sport and the Toyota Fortuner.

All three were capable vehicles, with each one bringing something unique to the table. But there was always something about Ford's entry that appealed to those looking for a good, muscular-looking, American SUV. The manufacturer backed this up with a host of features, too. But a couple of years on, where does the Everest stand?

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With this in mind, we came up with a list of things we still love about the vehicle, as well as a couple of items it can improve on in its next iteration. Have a look below:

1) We still dig its looks

The Everest saw arguably the biggest improvement in the design department when it came out alongside its Japanese counterparts. What once was a "Ford Ranger with a roof attached" came into its own, thanks to muscular design elements and unmistakable American engineering. It's something worth building on.

2) We can't get over the cool driver-assist features

Watching Ford's cars park themselves is a real treat. We can obviously do it ourselves, but it's a sign that age of the autopilot is dawning. So far, we only have the basics. But if Ford would equip the next-gen Everest with the ability to drive itself on the expressway and a better adaptive cruise control, that would be really, really neat.

3) The cabin is one of the classiest

We really dig the simple look of the Everest interior: minimalist layout, light colors, and pleasing ergonomics. One gripe though is that it could use a little more storage. It's not a big deal really, but it’s something worth considering.

4) It can really handle the rough stuff

Ford isn't shy about showing off what the Everest can do. We've driven it over sand, over mud, and most important, gone on road trips with it to make terrariums; because what good is your off-roading skills if you don't have culture?

5) It's going to have a new Raptor sibling

The word 'Raptor' is like 'rapture' to our ears. And we'll be seeing it soon!

This story originally appeared on Topgear.com.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Fhm.com.ph editors.